were laid off

USAGE SUMMARY

"were laid off" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to people who lost their jobs due to downsizing or other reasons. Example: "Many talented employees were laid off when the company restructured."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Workers were laid off.

The New York Times

Only 57 were laid off.

The New York Times

Thousands of state employees were laid off.

The New York Times

An unknown number were laid off.

The New York Times

More experienced workers were laid off.

The New York Times

Millions of people were laid off.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Another 160 people were laid off.

Yale University

More than 1,000 employees were laid off.

The New York Times

Many were laid off as soldiers returned.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Companies were laying off.

Forbes

Ultimately, she was laid off.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about layoffs, provide context. Mentioning the industry, company size, or broader economic conditions can help readers understand the situation better.

Common error

Avoid using "laid off" interchangeably with "fired". "Laid off" implies the job loss is due to company reasons, while "fired" suggests it's due to an employee's performance or behavior. If you mean the latter, use "were fired" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were laid off" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group of people experienced a job loss. It emphasizes the action (being laid off) rather than the actor (the company doing the laying off). This phrase is a standard way to describe involuntary job terminations, as verified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were laid off" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to describe job losses, often due to economic reasons or company restructuring. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for broad audiences. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure accuracy by distinguishing it from "fired" and providing relevant context. As a trustworthy resource, Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating the phrase's use in credible sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were let go

A more euphemistic and less direct way of saying someone was fired or laid off.

lost their jobs

Focuses on the result of the action, the state of being unemployed.

were terminated

A more formal way of saying someone's employment was ended.

were dismissed

Implies a more abrupt or formal termination of employment.

employment was ended

A neutral way of stating the end of someone's employment contract.

were made redundant

Highlights that the job position was eliminated, often due to restructuring.

faced layoffs

Highlights the broader context of layoffs affecting a group of people.

experienced job cuts

Similar to "faced layoffs", but emphasizes the event of job cuts.

job positions were cut

Focuses on the elimination of the job rather than the individual.

underwent downsizing

Frames the job loss as part of a larger company restructuring effort.

FAQs

What does "were laid off" mean?

The phrase "were laid off" means that employees have been terminated from their jobs, typically due to economic reasons, company restructuring, or downsizing. It is a neutral term that does not imply fault on the part of the employee.

Is it better to say "were laid off" or "were fired"?

The choice between "were laid off" and "were fired" depends on the reason for the job loss. "Were laid off" suggests the termination was due to company reasons, while "were fired" implies it was due to the employee's performance or misconduct. Use the term that accurately reflects the situation.

What are some synonyms for "were laid off"?

Some synonyms for "were laid off" include "lost their jobs", "were terminated", "were made redundant", and "were let go". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

How do I use "were laid off" in a sentence?

You can use "were laid off" in a sentence to describe a situation where employees lost their jobs due to factors such as economic downturns or company restructuring. For example, "Due to the recent economic downturn, many employees at the company "were laid off"."